Despite lot size constraints that prevent builders from building one-level homes, the popularity of a single-story home still prevails when lot sizes are big enough to accommodate them.

Katie Bates, affiliate broker and Realtor with Signature Homes Realty, LLC, said in McDaniel Farms in College Grove, nearly 40 percent of their new home sales are one-level and one-and-a-half plans, which may have a bonus room or bedroom upstairs with the rest of the home on a ground floor.

One-level plans cost more, require more land

“Builders don’t typically build one-level houses, but here we have half-acre lots to build them on,” Bates said. “We have three different one-level plans here and they are our best sellers by far. Our company is big on listening to what buyers want and that’s why we have three one-level plans and why they are nearly half of our sales.”

PARKS Affiliate Broker Beth Sturm agreed that one-story living is a timeless classic. Think of the ranch houses that were prevalent in the 1970s.

This kitchen in a home for sale in McDaniel Farms shows how rooms can be larger and more spacious in a one-story floorplan built on a larger lot.(Photo11: Kerry Woo / Signature Homes)

But, because many newer planned neighborhoods have narrow lot sizes, one-story homes just aren’t an option to build, which is why there aren’t many on the market. Sturm said a recent search only turned up 10 one-level new construction homes with a Franklin address.

“One-story homes just aren’t as efficient to build,” Sturm said. “You can get more for your money if you can build two stories stacked. One-story homes will always cost more per square foot than a two-story home because builders have more foundation and more roof, which is more expensive to build.”

This home is another one-story option being built in McDaniel Farms in College Grove.(Photo11: Kerry Woo / Signature Homes)

Single story plans available in College Grove, Franklin

Both Bates and Sturm have new homes listed that are one-story options and both said they might be sold by the time this story runs due to the interest in them.

“People love the open feel of a one-level because you don’t have to squish all the bedrooms on top,” Bates said. “People want to walk into a real foyer. They just meet everyone’s needs. If you are a young family with kids, you don’t want to have to run up and down stairs to check on them. Teenagers love a room over the garage that we can build with a one-story plan, and empty nesters love them as well. There’s not a buyer that a one-story plan doesn’t work for.”

Bates’ one-level home in McDaniel Farms is 3,390 square feet with four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths and is listed at $700,000. The builder is Signature Homes.

This spec home under construction by Carbine & Associates in Water Leaf in Franklin is being built because clients requested more one-story options.(Photo11: Courtesy of Carbine & Associates)

Sturm’s listing in Water Leaf is 3,000 square feet with three bedrooms and a bonus room above the garage with a half bath and is listed at $805,000. Being built by Carbine & Associates as a spec home, Sturm said this single-story floor plan was added based on recent demand by clients for this option.

“I think a lot of the new buyers want something their parents didn’t have,” Sturm said. “Then, as they age, they realize how nice a one-story is to have.”